10 Top Thanksgiving Tools

As you're planning your holiday menu, take an inventory of your cabinets and make sure you have the equipment you need before you start cooking. Here's my list of must-haves, all tested at the Good Housekeeping Research Institute and best in their class!

1.

Potato Peeler Whether russets or sweets are your family's spuds of choice, chances are there will be a whole lotta peelin' goin' on. Best tool for the job: Oxo Good Grips Potato Peeler ($7.99)

After you've roasted the turkey to perfection, it's on to the gravy. Make sure you get every drop of delicious drippings but none of the greasy calorie-laden fat with the Zyliss Gravy Separator ($14.99)

6.

Cutting Board Display your roasted gobbler on one of these reasonably priced handsome JK Adams Farmhouse Carvers ($34), then take it to the kitchen to do the carving. The moat around the edges will collect the juices and prevent them from running onto the counter and worse, floor.

7.

Electric Carving Knife Unless you have a super-sharp carver, we recommend the Cuisinart Electric Knife which will glide through your turkey, producing even slices with almost no markings. While the official price is $90 you can find it for about $50 at many retailers including the company's website. Check out our tutorial on Turkey Carving 101.

Pie Plate Looking for a pie plate with a bit of personality? Check out the handsome ceramic Emile Henry Pie Dish ($40) that can also be an oven-to-table server for stuffing or marshmallow-topped sweet potatoes. Find it in fruit shades, like cherry red, apple green, lemon yellow, or fig purple, as well as black and white. Another good option: The classic glass World Kitchen Pyrex 9 1/2" Pie Plate (just $2.99).